Kraven

Luna Abyss and Echo Generation 2 looks awesome. Yerba Buena Is also catching my eye. I will have to check those out.

Oh shoot, I didn’t even realize the remastered version of Space Marine 1 was on Game Pass. I’ve been wanting to play it. Thanks for the heads up!

All I’m playing is Saros. I just reached the third biome, and I’m having a literal blast. Housemarque has cooked once again. I’ve also been in the mood to finally play Jedi: Survivor so I might do that on my Series X since it’s the Game of the Month to try out over at TrueAchievements.

This looks awesome and very unique. The developers also seem really confident to show off their product, so I think they know they have a winner on their hands.

This is a real bummer. I haven’t played Greedfall, but I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Steel Rising. They seemed to have real potential.

In addition to beating Pragmata, I booted up Stalker 2 and loaded up an old save (I beat the game when it first released, and played 120-hours). I wanted to try out the new quest-lines that were added. This was more troublesome than I anticipated; it’s not a game you can hop back in a year later and feel comfortable. I was using med-kits when I wanted to turn on my flashlight. I wanted to fast travel, but I couldn’t until I got to a base of operations, yet that was harder than expected. I would try to run to my marker and die by anomalies and radiation. I eventually got my bearings after googling the controls, completed the new quests, and unlocked a few achievements. I can’t wait for its expansion.

Meanwhile, Hades 2 released on Game Pass. I’ve put in over 80-hours on the Switch version, but since Supergiant updated the game with new content I couldn’t resist starting a fresh playthrough. I’ve already experienced new events. Once again, I’m unabashedly addicted.

Here I am, five days left of my vacation. I was unsure what to start next. Despite my reservations due to the size of the game, I finally gave Crimson Desert a chance. All of my X/Twitter feeds have been praising the game, and the patches from the developer have been nothing but outstanding. It’s my type of game, but I still didn’t know what to expect.

Let me get the obvious out of the way: it’s overwhelming and mechanically complicated. There are so many systems at work, and they can overlap each other with the controls. With that said, I am already immersed in this beautiful and mysterious world. It’s similar to Red Dead Redemption 2 with its freedom and interactivity, and Dragon’s Dogma 2, one of my favorite games of all time, with focusing heavily on player agency and developing your own tale. I can predict that once I get used to the controls this could potentially be an all-timer for me.

So far, my vacation has been fantastic. I did what I set out to do—clean up my garage, and get a lot of yard work done. And play games, lots and lots of games.

I beat Pragmata (Xbox Series X). What a sublime experience. It may outshine Resident Evil Requiem for me which I did not expect. Capcom does something that no other current developer does: make me want to replay a game immediately after I beat it.

So, what’s the hook for this new IP? The combat. It’s really innovative. It’s a third person shooter with hacking mechanics all in one package. I was skeptical about how this would work in a proper firefight, but you’re never overwhelmed with enemies. There is a perfect balance that could have easily dismantled its entire focus, but thankfully it doesn’t. The combat also evolves with time, adding depth to the gameplay. You’ll consistently unlock new weapons, hacking nodes that caters to your style of play, and other surprises along the way.

There are finishing executions when an enemy gets weak, but there is only one variation. It’s kind of disappointing because it looks so stylish. If there were more animations with different weapons then it wouldn’t be an issue. It just gets repetitive after a while.

Exploration is also satisfying. There are five biomes to explore, each of which is approximately three hours each, maybe a little longer depending on if you go off the beaten path. If you do you’ll find benefits — new weapons, modifications, abilities, items for your shelter that liven the place up, and a lot of well written lore.

Some places are inaccessible at first, but similarly to Metroidvanias, you’ll acquire new abilities that allow you to explore areas later down the line. Thankfully, there are many checkpoint areas, so you’re able to do a quick clean up on the things you’ve missed. It took me roughly 14 hours to beat the game and find all collectibles without a guide.

The story is endearing. From all of the trailers I thought your companion, Diana, would be cumbersome and annoying. For some people, they may find this to be accurate. If you can tolerate her you will find a relatively emotional connection with her growth as a character.

Some story elements don’t always land. Pragmata pays homage to Dead Space, particularly in its opening hours — you’ll see posters on walls to emphasize this even more— and by this I mean you will succumb to horrifying loss. As such, the main protagonist, Hugh, whilst he comments on incidents that happen throughout the game, it’s his delivery, or lack there of, that isn’t handled well. You don’t feel his pain and suffering so it’s hard to relate; instead the focus is more on the “father/daughter” dynamic which is really solid.

I think Asha understands what the players want. Within the first month she has already created an environment that has an identity and passion. If she continues on this trajectory I think people will begin to see why Xbox can and is great.

As of right now, this is the best strategy for Xbox. Whether or not it will work is a different story altogether. To get people drawn back in to your ecosystem you have to have games—exclusives—that make it appealing. If their games stay multi-platform the idea of owning an Xbox is shallow since you can get their IP on, say, PlayStation, and get their exclusives as well.

I think Asha is doing great things in her first month at this job. She’s certainly been more impactful than Phil has been (in my opinion). That could be because of upper management, but still. It’s clear that these changes in the last month has got people talking positively about Xbox. To me, that’s an important first step. Hopefully, it’s sustainable.

This is awesome news. Xbox is coming back as a possible competitor again. To this day I still think the 360 video game wise is the best console of all time. I hope they can get back to that pedigree.

I actually never played Black Flag at all. I think I’ll check this out—it seems like the perfect summer game.

I’m glad to see Asha is wanting to bring back an identity. I feel like they had lost their way in how to approach gaming in general. Looks like things may go back to how the 360 era was.

It was pretty cringe. I’d say it was a C-. There were a lot of interesting games, but hardly any for me. And all of them honestly looked the same graphically. The only game that appealed to me was the first game about the ghosts.

@GeminiX53 Your comment(s), particularly the one addressed to @Backfor1day is insanely judgmental.

I have Game Pass, but I also buy my games outright. In fact, I’ve purchased Starfield, Stalker 2, Indiana Jones, and numerous other titles that are on the subscription service. Day one, too, mind you. Are you going to lump me into this oddly “entitled wallet dodging consumer”? In fact, I just bought Pragmata and Vampire Crawlers (both for Xbox Series X) despite the latter being on Game Pass.

Do you have Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime at all? I’d love to know whether or not you do. If so, do you buy your television shows or movies physical or digital, or do you stream them? If you do have a subscription service, why? The whole point of subscribing is to get access to media. What about music? Do you buy songs via Apple Music, or do you use Spotify? Why outright buy a game when it’s on GP, especially if you’re unsure if you’ll like it or not? Are you going to reply “Once again, thank you.” to me as well? If you do any one of those examples I mentioned then you are a hypocrite, and you should not be judging others on how they choose to spend their money.

Asha is off to a great start. There is a long road ahead of her, but she is making positive changes right out of the gate. I think this price change is smart, along with CoD not being day one on GP. It’s a nice strategic shift. I’m looking forward to seeing what else Asha has in store for Xbox.

I can’t wait. I think I’ll probably pick it up on my Switch 2 despite having Game Pass. It’s the perfect handheld game, and it’s cheap enough too. It looks to be just as addicting as Survivors.

@AI-Generation Yeah, it’s really good and the hacking mechanic works very well, much to my surprise. I like how the game has Metroidvania elements too. Exploration is consistently rewarding as well.

I finally earned the platinum for Marathon, and since progress carries over to Xbox, I wrapped up all the achievements there as well. I’m still pretty hooked—Bungie’s latest update has been nothing short of excellent.

Starting Monday, I’m on a ten-day vacation. I’ve begun Pragmata and it’s been great so far. It definitely has those familiar Capcom traits which isn’t a bad thing. The combat is adrenaline driven with its mini-game hacking gimmick, but it’s done remarkably well. In addition, the opening hours strongly remind me of Dead Space, and oddly enough, Death Stranding. And yet, it captures the essence of an Xbox 360 game.

My goal is to finish that, then move on to beating and 100% completing Replaced. I’ve put a few hours into it—on chapter 4—and it’s been fantastic. The 2.5D aesthetics are some of the best I’ve seen, even rivaling Square Enix’s Octopath series. The world-building is top notch, and the combat feels reminiscent of the Batman: Arkham games. I’ve yet to encounter any bugs the game is reported to have, so that’s a major plus.

I’ve also realized that, as much as I love PlayStation’s trophy system, I prefer the Xbox ecosystem overall. It’s where I’d rather play most third-party games—and Sony’s first-party output is starting to wear thin on me with its formulaic design.

However, I think my preference boils down to timing. I was a young teenager when the Xbox 360 launched, and that era left a huge impression on me. I grew up with the NES and owned just about everything—SNES, PS1 and PS2 (Max Payne, Manhunt, Vice City we’re very influential), N64, GameCube, Dreamcast, original Xbox—but I vividly remember the day my parents surprised me with a 360. We didn’t have much money. My parents were on disability, so bills were tight and food was scarce. One day when my mom picked me up from school, she told me to check the glove box—inside were Perfect Dark Zero and Condemned: Criminal Origins (still one of my all-time favorite horror games). I freaked out. When I got home, the console was already set up, with Call of Duty 2 on the screen, ready to go. I actually broke down in tears. It’s a moment I’ll never forget. To this day I have no idea how they managed to afford all of this, and I’ll never ask.

I also remember going to the public library back when that was still a “thing”—and reading previews for Gears of War. The screenshots blew me away. I had watched the launch trailer hundreds of times, with “Mad World” stuck in my head. When it finally released, it felt like nothing I’d ever played before. It completely revolutionized the third-person shooter genre. I became obsessed, and was ecstatic when I finally earned every achievement, including the 10,000 multiplayer kills.

My best friend and I would play through it co-op endlessly. Our summer vacations would consist of Gears of War, Halo: CE cooperatively, and Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell series split-screen. It was pure magic. That entire generation is packed with countless memories that I look back on fondly.

Anyway, I’m not sure how I ended up on that tangent, but yeah—Pragmata and Replaced are my main focus. Of course, I’ll more than likely get sucked into Hades 2 once again, and may even finally try out Crimson Desert, but we shall see. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.

It’s just as addicting, if not more so, than the first game. Melonie is also a great, memorable character. The Zag Mab set a high bar, but I think they are on equal footing.

One of my favorite gaming franchises, and I’m glad this looks to bring back what made the first two games so special. I cannot wait!

Update: I played about three hours so far (before work) and it’s fantastic. The art direction, cinematography, and world building is superb. The combat is a little basic at the moment, but from the achievements I saw it seems to expand later on. Right now, it’s been wonderful.

I’ve been wanting to play this game ever since I saw it a year or two back. I’m definitely picking it up. It’s reviewing well, and some of the negatives sound like positives for me personally.

Good. Exclusives, particularly good ones, brings more attention to your console. I know it’s been nice having Xbox games on PlayStation—I’ve certainly benefited from them—but the Xbox ecosystem, when it fires on all cylinders and hits its mark, is a great brand. I’ve been playing my Series X far more than my PlayStation this year, and with Replaced and Hades 2 on Game Pass that trend will continue.

With that being said, Microsoft needs to get their affairs in order. Stop with the back and forth and make a decision, plain and simple. It appears that the new people in charge are wanting to bring back an ecosystem similar to the OG Xbox and the 360, and I am all for that.

Glad to see it finally released and have solid reviews. I’m looking forward to checking it out later this evening.

Hades 2 and Replaced for me. I’ve put 80+ hours in Hades 2, and I’m down to do it again on Xbox.

This has been on my radar for years. I’m glad it’s finally getting released—hopefully it lives up to the hype.

Now this is what I’m talking about. The Metro games are some of my all time favorites, and I thoroughly enjoyed Exodus despite its change of pace and tone. I hope this one goes back to its roots.

Marathon. I genuinely cannot pull myself away from this brilliant shooter. Since last week I have discovered I’m much better when playing on Xbox rather than PlqyStation. This might be silly to say, but it’s all due to the controller.

With all of that said, next week on the 20th I’ll be taking a (stay)cation for an entire week. One thing I’m going to do is take a hiatus from social media and the internet in general. The incessant negativity I see spewed online has taken a toll on me mentally, and since my job has me conversing with strangers for 10-hours a day, I need a break.

I’m going to keep playing Marathon. I plan on starting Pragmata as well. Afterwards, I may begin a cosmic adventure in Starfield. However, Crimson Desert has been on my mind a lot. With all the (quick) updates and patches, and shockingly positive reception I do rarely see, it has me itching to jump into its open world.

And out of all that, what I’m really going to do is decompress. And relax. And enjoy games, good or bad, but not with any discourse online. Yeah, that sounds nice.

The Burger King games from the 360 era. Easy Gamerscore for sure.

I bought this game and have been tempted to play it, but Marathon is consuming my soul, but today I think I’ll really do it. I love how the developers are listening to feedback and making sure the game is the best product it can be. It looks fantastic, and the fan reception has been awesome.

I can’t wait for this game — it’s been one of my most anticipated ever since I saw its first trailer a year or two back.

I hope this remake turns out well. I’m really curious as to how the prequel missions will be, and if they are implemented within the original beginning of the game.

Hades 2 and Replaced are day one downloads for me. There is an excellent list of games this month.

It’s a great tool for customers who want to dabble in variety. I actually re-subbed a few days ago. With that said, I tend to buy my games (even if they are on Game Pass) when they are on sale knowing they might leave the service at some point. But I do agree - with the current games on the service, it’s hard to ignore.

@TrollOfWar I should have clarified. They aren’t playing Marathon. They are playing Arc Raiders and The Division 2.

Also, I make bad decisions. lol.

The same as last week—and will be for the foreseeable future—Marathon (PS5).

With that said, I’ve actually been in an Xbox mood as of late. I typically play on the PS5 or Switch, but Marathon has me wanting to play online with buddies, and they are Microsoft focused. And yeah … I may have double dipped. You don’t have to judge me, alright; I am judging myself.

On a tangent, if you ignore the incessant negativity about console wars on Twitter (X; I’m looking at you, SnapPlay) about either brand, and people bashing others for liking certain games on whichever console they prefer, the overall product is quite amazing. Seriously, all I’ve been seeing lately from people is, “IGN scored Marathon a 9, but Crimson Desert a 6. They are paid shills. Their credibility is so bad.” It’s at least something to that effect. And it’s not just with those two games — it’s practically everything. It’s mentally exhausting trying to find a community where people celebrate games as they are, regardless of the console it belongs to.

Anyway, back on topic. If you mute out the discourse about Xbox (though it has been positive lately with its changes in leadership), you will see how it’s a great consumer product. Game Pass, while expensive, is still a great deal for customers. Backward compatibility is also a strong features. While Xbox may not have any (console) exclusive games to draw you into buying the consoles, it has an extensive library worth checking out.

So, yeah. Maybe I did go on a shopping spree and buy a handful of games on the Spring sale. I thoroughly enjoy third party games on Xbox more than anywhere else. In the sale, I picked up Silent Hill f, Hell Is Us, and Arc Raiders. I also redownloaded The Division 2 to play cooperatively with my best friend.

In conclusion, what I’m trying to say is I’m 113 hours deep in Marathon, and I’ve decided to play it on another console. That is the TL;DR version of this disjointed rant 👍

I picked up Silent Hill f. I am somewhat tempted to get Hell Is Us, too.

@Broosh I was thinking of picking up those games as well. I’ve dabbled in the first game a bit, enjoyed it, but got busy and never played again. It was fun, though.

I literally just bought Arc Riders yesterday … sigh. Alan Wake 2 might be worth a purchase, though!

Oh, this is cool news. I’ll probably check it out depending on the price. Either way, I recommend people try this game out if they haven’t played it before.

There are at least five games on this list that I want to play. April is stacked! Just yesterday I booted my Series X up for the first time in months, and re-subscribed to Game Pass. There are many excellent games that I’ve been wanting to (re)play.

Pragmata and Hades 2 for me, though I’ve spent at least 50+ hours on the latter on my Switch 2.

This should be a pretty great showcase, even if the games weren’t coming to PlayStation. It’s weird, I’m primarily a PS and Nintendo guy, but I’ve been in an Xbox mood lately, particularly with their recent game pass additions. I think I’ll actually boot up my Series X and play there for a while. Plus, I’ve been wanting to jump back into the Division, and my friends all play it on the Xbox. And I’ve also been hankering for a replay of the Gears of War trilogy.

All I ever wanted was Singularity but that seems to be a lost cause at this point.

I’m thoroughly enjoying it so far! I’m a big fan of the first game and this newest entry is even better so far. And the gunplay is very good. I’m surprised by how much Obsidian has improved combat. It feels incredible to play.

What am I playing this weekend? What do you think - Baldur’s Gate 3, of course. As I sit by the campfire playing fetch with my dog Scratch, I can’t help but reflect what one day can do to a man, or in this case, a Dwarf monk.

My journey in the Shadow Lands has been quite an adventure. I messed around and found out because I’m somehow the savior of this disastrous locale. Throughout my time, I’ve told Marcus Falgor, this bulking man with childish harpy wings, to scram. He didn’t, but I made him, y’know? Afterwards, to celebrate my victory, I shared a few drinks with Thisobald. I used my monk’s willpower to stay sober while we swapped stories. I can’t say the same for him. Who knew beer could cause spontaneous combustion? It was a darn shame - I was enjoying his company. Oh, well; things happen.

Subsequently, upon leaving the tavern I got stopped by this gold blob - a toll collector by the name of Gerringothe Thorm. I didn’t like the cut of her gib, not one bit. She was too damn shiny. I convinced her to see the error of her ways and she responded by giving me all of her coin, including herself. It was just another day in the Forgotten Realms … so I thought.

In comes this googly-eyed weirdo; Malus Thorm is his name. What are with these Thorm people, anyway? Lady Shar Almighty. Anyway, I just wanted a touch-up to survive the evening. Instead, I walked into a hospital filled with undead nurses performing surgery on some poor man screaming in agony. Malus had a brilliant idea: having his nurses perform surgery on me. Are you a jester? We just met, you clown. I told him I don’t float that boat because I don’t let people under my skin until people are properly trained. He understood and told his staff to practice on each other. Let me tell you - they did an excellent job. Too good, in fact. That wasn’t enough, though. I told him practice makes perfect. He was confused, so I urged him to see how surgery feels on himself. That was the end of that.

So yeah, long story short, my playthrough is going better than expected. Me and Scratch are hanging out, playing fetch, and just mingling by the campfire before I see what shenanigans I can get up to at the Moonrise Towers.

Last week I talked about how I’m playing Baldur’s Gate 3 - taking my time, playing in spurts, and eventually completing it after reaching the end of Act 2. It would be at this point where fatigue settles in and I would ultimately shelve the game for months, only to come back, forget the mechanics, and create a new character. This process would be repeated over and over.

Meanwhile, my initial goal was to play BG3 between other games: Metal Gear Solid Delta, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, and Hollow Knight Silksong. Let me state for the record - those goals have gone to hell in a hand basket. I am in DEEEEEEP waters on my trek to reach the pinnacle of Act 3. I genuinely can’t get enough of it, and I’m about to wrap up the second act with a newfound sense of energy.

What blows my mind is how different this playthrough is compared to my previous ones. I have this awful habit in RPGs where I tend to choose the “good guy” route whenever there is dialogue choices. Moreover, I play the same type of character if I can - a high-elf, rogue assassin. And when I get a bad roll of the dice I reload my save until I get the outcome I wanted. This time, however, I’m a Dwarf monk and it has been awesome. I’m letting the rolls dictate the story, good or bad - a true RPG experience. What I wasn’t expecting is how unsatisfying rolls can actually create better moments throughout side quests and main campaign.

Simply put, there is a lot of game here. You never feel as if you missed out on something special regardless of your good or bad choices because the writing is so top notch that every thread is meticulously fleshed out so you can get the ultimate experience. My actions are generally good, but also morally grey. I tend to find the root of the problem and rip it out, but if I can use it to my advantage then I will. I’m living my best life in BG3 and wouldn’t have it any other way.

I want to conclude my rant by making a bold proclamation: from a video game perspective, BG3 might be the greatest of all time. That’s not to say it’s my favorite, but in totality I think it measures up to that threshold. To me, it’s the epitome of what I have always envisioned games to be ever since I could comprehend the basics in 1994.

A rich, lush world beckoning to be explored, filled with many secrets to uncover? Check. Freedom and allows for player expression? Double check. An incredible cast of characters with unique personalities, deep history to learn about, fully fleshed out, and having an experience tailor made to each individual and play-style? Triple check. Writing that is on another level, to the point where each interaction with any character or NPC feels meaningful? Quadruple check. Every facet of this game is seamlessly woven together, and I don’t understand it. I don’t want to, either. I’m just happy it exists.

This weekend I’m not playing anything. My wife and I surprised our daughter with her first ever tickets to a concert in Chicago, so that’s where we will be for the next couple of days. It will be our first time there, so we are going to do all of the touristy things. To say I’m excited to finally try Chicago deep dish pizza for the first time is an understatement.

However, throughout the week I decided to start a fresh playthrough in Baldur’s Gate 3. I’ve done this twice - both times reaching the end of Act 2, but getting fatigued and putting the game down for a long while. It’s truly a special game, but I have a tendency to implement the same style of play each time - a high elf, rogue assassin that focuses on stealth and archery. I do this with The Elder Scrolls, too.

This time I’m making a devoted effort to play in different ways. For starters, I’m a Dwarf with the subclass of Paladin. Secondly, I have a terrible habit of save scumming and being a good guy. While I will still be good, I’m going to choose dialogue options that are appropriate rather than solely choosing the “right” response, and whatever the dice rolls I am going to allow myself to accept the decision, good or bad. And lastly, I’m going to try new character abilities during combat. I generally play it safe and focus on raw strength and advantages rather than coming up with unique methods to approach combat, or not at all.

So far, my experimentation has turned out quite well. Who knew using magic was so fun? I’m throughly enjoying how I approach every situation and living with the results. Moreover, by doing so, I’m discovering unexpected side quests that I never found in my first two endeavors, and branching narratives that I can tell will have an impact later on. I’m really curious to see how things evolve.

The one thing that will never change: romancing Shadowheart. That will remain a constant until Gale decides to end us all with an explosion of jealousy and addiction. And on an unrelated side note - I’m praying for a Nintendo Switch 2 port because I’ll be doing a lot of traveling this upcoming year and it would be the perfect companion piece.

I finished up the platinum trophy for Mafia: The Old Country this week. I found it to be the epitome of a 7/10 game which is a compliment. I honestly would rate it higher if not for a couple of nagging issues that prevent it from excelling.

The story and characters are very well written and acted. I managed to get invested in their arc(s) and care about the main protagonist and his fate. It may have been a predictable tale, but that didn’t stop it from being effective. My complaint, however, lies with its ending. It wasn’t bad—it was rushed. There should have been a few more chapters sprinkled in to flesh out the narrative. There are character perspectives that go from adoring someone in the Mafioso family to complete defilement in the span of one chapter. It didn’t make sense. Thematically, I understand, but how we got to that destination felt diluted.

On the other side of things, I found the gameplay solid and enjoyable. The driving felt more intuitive than Mafia 1, and the combat and stealth mechanics were great, albeit uninspired. It felt like an Uncharted game from the early PS3-era, with its cover based shooting, stealth elements, and set pieces.

The only real annoyance I have with the game - and this dates back to Mafia 1 - is the collectibles. My goodness, talk about atrocious. The developers really needs to come up with a better system for how you acquire these items, particularly when it’s an limited open world that encourages you to stay on the main course by having a countdown of 15 seconds to return to the main objective if you stray off the beaten path. Guess where at least a partial amount of those collectibles are; yep, you guessed it.

Thankfully, once you beat the game there is an option for chapter replay and “explore” mode, meaning you have access to the entire world map. This sounds great in theory, but it still makes hunting for collectibles tiresome. They won’t appear on the map unless you are physically next to it. This wouldn’t be much of an issue if there was an incentive to get out of your vehicle or dismount from your horse, but there isn’t. Speaking of the map, you can’t set any markers, so you are constantly opening and closing your map to see how close you are to your destination.

What doesn’t appear on the map regardless if you are near is the infamous foxes that you can obtain. There are 50 of them total, and unlike other collectibles such as Newspapers, Saint cards, and Photographs, they don’t have a specific name registered to them. Moreover, some of these collectibles are exclusively tied to main missions, and since there is no tracker for what you have or haven’t collected in the story, good luck with the hunt.

Overall, I think the game is good to borderline great. If you’re a fan of a tight narrative with compelling characters and serviceable gameplay you should definitely try this game out. There are a few stumbles along the way with its pacing, but if you’re looking for something to beat over a weekend then you can’t go wrong with this game.

I feel like this could be a sleeper hit, similarly to Banishers last year. I’ll be keeping my eye on this — I hope it reviews well.